1.那时，约兰的子孙中有一个祭司，名叫玛他提亚，是约翰的儿子，西蒙的孙子，他从耶路撒冷搬到摩底因，住在那里。Mattathias and His Sons In those days Mattathi′as the son of John, son of Sim′eon, a priest of the sons of Jo′arib, moved from Jerusalem and settled in Mo′de-in.
2.他有五个儿子，约翰又称加第，He had five sons, John surnamed Gaddi,
3.西蒙他西Simon called Thassi,
4.犹大称为马加比，Judas called Maccabe′us,
5.以利亚撒称为亚维兰，约拿单称为亚弗斯。Elea′zar called Av′aran, and Jonathan called Apphus.
6.他看见犹大和耶路撒冷所犯的亵渎行为，He saw the blasphemies being committed in Judah and Jerusalem,
7.并且说，哎哟，我为什么生来要看见这些，我的人民的毁灭，圣城的毁灭，并且要住在那里的时候，它被交给敌人，圣所被交给外人？and said, “Alas! Why was I born to see this, the ruin of my people, the ruin of the holy city, and to dwell there when it was given over to the enemy, the sanctuary given over to aliens?
8.她的圣所已经变得像一个没有尊荣的人；Her temple has become like a man without honor;
9.她的荣耀的器皿被掠为掳物，她的婴儿在街上被杀，她的年轻人被敌人的刀所杀。her glorious vessels have been carried into captivity. Her babes have been killed in her streets, her youths by the sword of the foe.
10.哪个国家没有继承她的宫殿，也没有掠夺她的财富？What nation has not inherited her palaces and has not seized her spoils?
11.她所有的装饰都被夺走了，不再自由，她已经成为奴隶。All her adornment has been taken away; no longer free, she has become a slave.
12.看哪，我们的圣所，我们的美丽和我们的荣耀都已荒废；外邦人已经亵渎了它。And behold, our holy place, our beauty, and our glory have been laid waste; the Gentiles have profaned it.
13.我们为什么还要再活下去？Why should we live any longer?”
14.玛他提亚和他的儿子们撕裂衣服，穿上麻衣，大大地哀悼。And Mattathi′as and his sons rent their clothes, put on sackcloth, and mourned greatly.
15.异教崇拜被拒绝 那时，王的官员强制实行背教的命令来到摩底因城，要他们献祭。Pagan Worship Refused Then the king’s officers who were enforcing the apostasy came to the city of Mo′de-in to make them offer sacrifice.
16.许多以色列人都来到他们那里，玛塔提亚和他的儿子们也聚集在一起。Many from Israel came to them; and Mattathi′as and his sons were assembled.
17.当时王的官员对玛他提亚这样说，你在这城中是个领袖，是尊贵和伟大的人，又有儿子和兄弟作你的依靠。Then the king’s officers spoke to Mattathi′as as follows: “You are a leader, honored and great in this city, and supported by sons and brothers.
18.现在先来遵行王的命令吧，正如各国人和犹大人，以及耶路撒冷剩下的人所做的一样。这样，你和你的儿子就可以被列入王的亲信之中，你和你的儿子也会因银子、金子和许多礼物而受到尊敬。Now be the first to come and do what the king commands, as all the Gentiles and the men of Judah and those that are left in Jerusalem have done. Then you and your sons will be numbered among the friends of the king, and you and your sons will be honored with silver and gold and many gifts.”
19.但玛他提亚回答说，大声地说：“即使所有住在王权下的国家都顺从他，选择遵行他的命令，每个人都违背他祖先的宗教，But Mattathi′as answered and said in a loud voice: “Even if all the nations that live under the rule of the king obey him, and have chosen to do his commandments, departing each one from the religion of his fathers,
20.然而我和我的儿子以及我的兄弟都要按照我们祖宗的约而行。yet I and my sons and my brothers will live by the covenant of our fathers.
21.我们绝不离弃律法和诫命。Far be it from us to desert the law and the ordinances.
22.我们不听从王的话，偏离我们的宗教，不论向左或向右。We will not obey the king’s words by turning aside from our religion to the right hand or to the left.”
23.他说完了这些话，有一个犹太人当着众人，在摩底因的祭坛上按照王的命令献祭。When he had finished speaking these words, a Jew came forward in the sight of all to offer sacrifice upon the altar in Mo′de-in, according to the king’s command.
24.马太提亚看见了，就燃烧着热情，心中大为激动，他发出了义愤的怒吼，跑过去就在坛上杀了他。When Mattathi′as saw it, be burned with zeal and his heart was stirred. He gave vent to righteous anger; he ran and killed him upon the altar.
25.同时他杀死了强迫他们献祭的王官，并拆毁了祭坛。At the same time he killed the king’s officer who was forcing them to sacrifice, and he tore down the altar.
26.他为律法燃烧着热情，就像比尼哈斯对抗撒鲁的儿子西米里一样。Thus he burned with zeal for the law, as Phin′ehas did against Zimri the son of Salu.
27.当时马他提亚在城中大声呼喊，说：凡热心于法律、坚持盟约的，都跟我出来！Then Mattathi′as cried out in the city with a loud voice, saying: “Let every one who is zealous for the law and supports the covenant come out with me!”
28.他和他的儿子们逃往山区，把他们在城里所有的都留下了。And he and his sons fled to the hills and left all that they had in the city.
29.于是，许多寻求公义和正义的人都下到旷野去居住，Then many who were seeking righteousness and justice went down to the wilderness to dwell there,
30.他们、他们的儿子、他们的妻子和他们的牲畜，因为灾祸重重地压在他们身上。they, their sons, their wives, and their cattle, because evils pressed heavily upon them.
31.有人将此事报告给王的官员和耶路撒冷大卫城里的军队，说有不听王命的人已经下到旷野的隐秘处。And it was reported to the king’s officers, and to the troops in Jerusalem the city of David, that men who had rejected the king’s command had gone down to the hiding places in the wilderness.
32.许多人追赶他们，追上了他们，他们在安息日在他们对面扎营，并在他们对面做好战斗的准备。Many pursued them, and overtook them; they encamped opposite them and prepared for battle against them on the sabbath day.
33.他们对他们说：“不要再说这些了，出来，按照王的命令去做，你们就能活命。”And they said to them, “Enough of this! Come out and do what the king commands, and you will live.”
34.但他们说，我们不出来，也不遵王的命令亵渎安息日。But they said, “We will not come out, nor will we do what the king commands and so profane the sabbath day.”
35.于是敌人急忙攻击他们。Then the enemy hastened to attack them.
36.但他们没有回答他们，也没有向他们抛石头，也没有堵塞他们的藏身之处，But they did not answer them or hurl a stone at them or block up their hiding places,
37.因为他们说，我们宁愿在无辜中死去，天地可以为我们作证，你们杀死我们是毫无道理的。for they said, “Let us all die in our innocence; heaven and earth testify for us that you are killing us unjustly.”
38.于是他们在安息日攻击他们，他们和他们的妻子、孩子、牲畜都死了，共有一千人。So they attacked them on the sabbath, and they died, with their wives and children and cattle, to the number of a thousand persons.
39.马太提亚和他的朋友们知道这件事以后，对他们深感悲痛。When Mattathi′as and his friends learned of it, they mourned for them deeply.
40.他们彼此相告说：“如果我们都像我们的兄弟一样，不肯为生命和律法与外邦人战斗，他们很快就会把我们从地上消灭。”And each said to his neighbor: “If we all do as our brethren have done and refuse to fight with the Gentiles for our lives and for our ordinances, they will quickly destroy us from the earth.”
41.于是他们当天做出了这样的决定：“我们要对抗每一个在安息日来攻击我们的人，不要像我们的兄弟们在藏身之处死去那样，我们都死去。”So they made this decision that day: “Let us fight against every man who comes to attack us on the sabbath day; let us not all die as our brethren died in their hiding places.”
42.然后，有一群哈西底人加入他们，这些人是以色列的勇士，每一个人都自愿献身为律法服务。Counter-Attack Then there united with them a company of Haside′ans, mighty warriors of Israel, every one who offered himself willingly for the law.
43.凡逃避困苦的人都来投靠他们，加入他们，成为他们的力量。And all who became fugitives to escape their troubles joined them and reinforced them.
44.他们组织了一支军队，在愤怒中击倒罪人，在烈怒中击杀法规之外的人；幸存者逃到外邦人中寻求安全。They organized an army, and struck down sinners in their anger and lawless men in their wrath; the survivors fled to the Gentiles for safety.
45.玛塔提亚和他的朋友们周游各处，拆毁祭坛；And Mattathi′as and his friends went about and tore down the altars;
46.他们强迫所有在以色列境内发现的未受割礼的男孩接受割礼。they forcibly circumcised all the uncircumcised boys that they found within the borders of Israel.
47.他们追查骄傲的人，工作就在他们手中繁荣起来。They hunted down the arrogant men, and the work prospered in their hands.
48.他们从外邦人和君王的手中夺回了律法，并且不让罪人占上风。They rescued the law out of the hands of the Gentiles and kings, and they never let the sinner gain the upper hand.
49.马太提亚的最后话语 马太提亚死的日子临近了，他对他的儿子们说，现在狂妄和羞辱已经变得强大，这是一个毁灭和愤怒的时期。The Last Words of Mattathias Now the days drew near for Mattathi′as to die, and he said to his sons: “Arrogance and reproach have now become strong; it is a time of ruin and furious anger.
50.现在，我的孩子们，要热心于法律，为我们祖先的盟约献出生命。Now, my children, show zeal for the law, and give your lives for the covenant of our fathers.
51.记念列祖的作为，他们世世代代所行的；便得大荣耀，及永远长存的名。“Remember the deeds of the fathers, which they did in their generations; and receive great honor and an everlasting name.
52.亚伯拉罕在受试验的时候没有被发现是有信心的吗，他的信心就被算为义吗？Was not Abraham found faithful when tested, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness?
53.约瑟在受困的时候守住了命令，成了埃及的主宰。Joseph in the time of his distress kept the commandment, and became lord of Egypt.
54.我们的父亲比尼哈斯，因他极其热心，得了永远执司祭职的约。Phin′ehas our father, because he was deeply zealous, received the covenant of everlasting priesthood.
55.约书亚因顺服命令而成为以色列的士师。Joshua, because he fulfilled the command, became a judge in Israel.
56.迦勒， 因为他在众人中作了见证，所以得了这地为业。Caleb, because he testified in the assembly, received an inheritance in the land.
57.大卫因其慈悲，永远承继了国的王位。David, because he was merciful, inherited the throne of the kingdom for ever.
58.以利亚因其对律法的极大热心而被接上天。Eli′jah because of great zeal for the law was taken up into heaven.
59.哈拿尼雅、亚撒利雅和米煞勒信了，得救脱离火焰。Hanani′ah, Azari′ah, and Mish′a-el believed and were saved from the flame.
60.但以理因他的清洁无辜，从狮子的口中得了解脱。Daniel because of his innocence was delivered from the mouth of the lions.
61.“这样一代又一代地观察，凡倚靠他的人，没有一个缺乏力量。“And so observe, from generation to generation, that none who put their trust in him will lack strength.
62.不要怕恶人的话，因为他的荣华要变成粪土和虫子。Do not fear the words of a sinner, for his splendor will turn into dung and worms.
63.今天他可能得尊贵，明天却不能再找到他，因为他归于尘土，他所筹划的都必消灭。Today he will be exalted, but tomorrow he will not be found, because he has returned to the dust, and his plans will perish.
64.我的孩子们，要勇敢，在律法上坚强，因为这样你们就会获得荣耀。My children, be courageous and grow strong in the law, for by it you will gain honor.
65.现在看哪，我知道你们的兄弟西梅온是贤明的，你们要常听从他，他将成为你们的父親。“Now behold, I know that Sim′eon your brother is wise in counsel; always listen to him; he shall be your father.
66.犹大·马加比亚从年轻时就是一位强大的勇士，他将为你统领军队，与各国人民战斗。Judas Maccabe′us has been a mighty warrior from his youth; he shall command the army for you and fight the battle against the peoples.
67.你们应当聚集所有守法的人，替你们的族人报仇。You shall rally about you all who observe the law, and avenge the wrong done to your people.
68.向外邦人完全报答，并听从律法的命令。Pay back the Gentiles in full, and heed what the law commands.”
69.于是他为他们祝福，归到他的列祖那里。Then he blessed them, and was gathered to his fathers.
70.他在一百四十六年死去，就葬在摩底因他列祖的坟墓里，以色列人都为他大大哀哭。He died in the one hundred and forty-sixth year and was buried in the tomb of his fathers at Mo′de-in. And all Israel mourned for him with great lamentation.